Penalty Enforcement

Status of Ball and Plays

Status of the ball – there are only two possibilities – it’s either a live ball foul or a dead ball foul. Unsportsmanlike fouls may occur while the ball is live or dead. Whatever the status of the ball, unsportsmanlike fouls are enforced as if they occurred after the play was over.

When the ball is live, one of two types of plays occurs: a loose ball play or running play.A loose ball play is action during a free kick or scrimmage kick, a legal forward pass, a backward pass (including the snap), an illegal kick or fumble by team A from in or behind the neutral zone prior to a change of team possession. The run or runs that proceed a legal or illegal kick, legal forward pass, backward pass or fumble is considered part of a loose ball play.A post-scrimmage kick (PSK) foul is a special king of loose ball play and has special enforcement.

Any other play is considered a running play.

SPOTSPrevious Spot – is just what the name implies – point at which the ball was last put in play by snap or free kick.

Succeeding Spot – point at which ball will next be put in play either by snap or free kick.

Basic Spot – point of reference for penalty enforcement. For a loose ball play other than PSK, the basic spot is the previous spot. The basic spot is the end of the run for a running play.

Dead Ball Spot – spot under the foremost point of the ball when it becomes dead by rule.

PSK Spot – where the kick ends.

All But One PrincipalFor many fouls, the enforcement spot is given as part of the statement of the penalty. Example – encroachment, illegal shift, illegal motion are always enforced from the previous spot. But for many fouls, the rule book refers to the basic spot, not a specific location on the field. Those penalties are enforced according to the three-and-one principal, referred to as the all-but-one principal.

All-but-one determines the spot from which the penalty is stepped off. Key to using that principal if the notion of the basic spot. The basic spot is not a fixed location on the field; it’s a benchmark for locating the enforcement spot and varies according to the type of play.

The basic spot (except for PSK) can only be either the previous spot of the end of the run; there are no other candidates

All But One Principal• For running plays in which the run ends beyond the neutral

zone, the basic spot is the end of the run. Same is true for running plays when there is no neutral zone, kick returns, interception returns and other plays involving change of team possession

• For running plays which end behind the neutral zone, the basic spot is the end of the run

• For legal forward pass plays and for kick plays that do not involve PSK, the basic spot is the previous spot.

If the team that does not have the ball commits a foul, enforce the penalty from the basic spot regardless of where the foul happens.If the team in possession commits a foul, the enforcement spot depends on where the foul was committed. If it happens beyond the basic spot, go back to basic spot for enforcement. If it occurs behind the basic spot, enforce from the spot of the foul.

All But One Principal

Applying the all-but-one principal is easy when you follow the recipe: Where is the basic spot, and where did the foul occur in relation to the basic spot? Answering those questions will allow you to correctly enforce any penalty that is governed by the all-but-one principal.

Live Ball Foul by Team A

At or beyond end of the run

Behind end of the run

Penalty enforced from end of the run

Penalty enforced from spot of the foul

End of the run or foul in team A’s end zone

Safety

Fouls During Running Plays

Live Ball Foul by Team B

Penalty enforced from end of the run

Anywhere

End of the run or foul in team A’s end zone

Enforce from team A’s goal

line

If If

Running Play Team A Fouls

First and 10 for team A from it’s own 20. A1 carries to team A 35 yard line. A2 is flagged for holding at team A 25 yard line.

Is this all-but-one enforcement?Where is basic spot?Penalize from spot of foul – 1st and 15 for from A 15.

Same play but team fouls at team A 40.Is this all-but-one enforcement?Where is basic spot?Enforce from end of run, 1st and 5 for A from 25.

Running Plays Team B Fouls

Basic rule is to enforce any defensive foul on a running play from the end of the run.

First and 10 for team A from its own 20. A1 carries to A’s 35. B2 is flagged for grabbing but not twisting A’s facemask. Foul occurs at teams A 25.

Ball loose behind line

Team A’s foul occurs behind

line

Team A’s foul occurs beyond

line

Penalty enforced from spot of the foul

Penalty enforced from Previous spot

Spot of the foul is team A’s

end zone

Safety

Fouls During a Backward Pass, Fumble or Legal Forward Pass

Ball loose beyond line

Team A’s foul occurs behind

spot of fumble or backward pass

Team A’s foul occurs beyond

spot of fumble or backward pass

Penalty enforced from spot of the foul

Penalty enforced from spot of

fumble or backward pass

Spot of the foul is team A’s

end zone

Safety

If If

First and 10 for A from it’s 30. A1 legal forward pass is incomplete beyond line. Holding is called at team A 45 on (a) A2 or (b) B3.In either case the penalty is enforced from the previous spot.

Fouls During a Backward Pass, Fumble or Legal Forward Pass

Team B fouls while ball is

loose; loose ball occurs beyond

line

Team B fouls while ball is

loose; loose ball occurs behind

line

Penalty enforced from spot of

fumble or backward pass

Penalty enforced from previous

spot

First and 10 for team A from team B 30 yard line. Team A legal forward pass from behind line is complete to A33 to B 10. Team B is flagged for holding on team B 25.

Where is enforcement?

Roughing the passer

complete pass

Change of possession,

run ends behind neutral zone or play

results

Run ends beyond

neutral zone, no change of possession

Penalty enforced from previous spot

Penalty enforced from dead ball spot

Roughing the Passer on Legal Forward Passes

Roughing the passer incomplete

pass

First and 10 for A from it’s 40. Legal forward pass to A2 is complete to B 45. A2 fumbles at B45 but recovers at B 40. Roughing passer is called on B2.

Where is dead ball spot?

Either team fouls during

the kick

Penalty enforced from previous spot.

Fouls on Free Kick PlaysEither team fouls

after the kick ends (ball does

not become loose during the run)

Foul occurs behind end of the

run

Foul occurs beyond end of the

run

Foul by team K

Penalty enforced from end of the

run

Foul by team R

Penalty enforced from spot of the foul

Penalty enforced from end of the run

K free kicks from it’s own 40. R5 catches kick on own 5 and returns to team A 40. During run, R6 clips at team R’s 10.

Fouls that occur after the receivers catch or recover the free kick are fouls during a running play. Enforce team R foul from spot of foul.

Team K free kicks from it’s 40. R1 holds while ball is in flight. R2 catches ball on 5 and returns to team R 20.

Type of play?K will re kick after 10 yd penalty is enforced from previous spot. If K declines, teams R ball 1st and 10 from 20.

Foul before change – PSK not involved

Team B foulsTeam A’s fouls

Running Play

Team B must decline penalty

to keep ball

Penalty enforced from spot of

fumble or backward pass

Penalty enforced from previous spot

Fouls on Change of Possession Plays

Team last gaining

possession must decline penalty to

keep ball

Both Teams Foul

Team last gaining possession fouled

before final change

Team last gaining possession did not foul before

final change

Fouls offset, replay down

Loose Ball Play

If B fouls prior to change of possession, the ball is returned to team A and team B’s foul is enforced form spot of fumble or backward pass.

First and 10 for team A from it’s 40. A1 advances to A 45 when B2 grabs and twist A1 facemask. A1 reaches 50 and fumbles, where B3 recovers the loose ball.

Because B fouled prior to gaining possession, it cannot keep the ball. Ball is returned to A and penalty is enforced from the spot of the fumble. Team A ball first and 10 from B 35.

Team A fouls after Team B

has possession

Dead ball in field of play

Ball dead in team B’s end

zone

Penalty enforced from

end of run

Touchback enforce from team B’s 20

yardline

Fouls on Change of Possession Plays

Ball dead in team B’s end zone

Team B provided the force

Penalty enforced from the goalline

Team A provided the

force

Third and 5 for Team A from A’s 30. A8 legal forward pass is intercepted by B41 at 50. During B’s return to 10 yard line, A8 is flagged for block below waist at B’s 25.

What type of play?? Penalty is enforced from end of team B run. 1st and goal for B at 5.

Team B fouls after team B

has possession

Team B fouls in the field of

play

Team B fouls in it’s own end

zone

Penalty enforced using

all-but-one

Safety for team A

Ball dead in the field of

play

Fouls on Change of Possession Plays

Team B fouls after team B

has possession

Ball dead in team B’s end

zone

Team A provided the

force

Team B fouls in team B’s end

zone

Safety for team ABasic spot is team B’s 20

yardline

Fouls on Change of Possession Plays

Safety for team A

Team B provided the

force

Team B fouls in the field of

play

Team B fouls in team B’s end

zone

Safety for team A

Team B fouls in the field of play

Team K fouls

From snap until kick ends

Foul occurs at or beyond line

Penalty enforced from previous spot

Fouls on Scrimmage Kick Plays

Spot of foul is in team K’s end

zone

Foul occurs behind line

Penalty enforced using

all but one

Safety

IfException: If team K commits kick-catching interference, team R may choose a 15 yard penalty from the previous spot or an awarded fair catch at he spot of the foul.

Team K fouls

After Kick Ends

Fouls on Scrimmage Kick Plays

Penalty Enforced from

End of Run

Team R fouls(PSK)

Foul occurs behind end of

kick

Penalty enforced using

all but one

Fouls on Scrimmage Kick Plays

Foul occurs at or beyond end

of kick

Penalty enforced from

end of kick

PSK applies if team R fouls on team R’s side of the expanded neutral zone prior to endof scrimmage kick (other than a try of successful field goal) that crosses the neutral zone,if team K does not have possession of the ball when the down ends.

Team R fouls(non PSK)

Foul occurs anywhere

Fouls on Scrimmage Kick Plays

Penalty Enforced from Previous Spot

4th and 2 on the 50. R1 gives and invalid fair catch signal at his 20 while punt is in flight. R1 catches kick at 15.Is this PSK?Team B will likely accept 5 yd penalty from the PSK spot. 1st and 10 from 10.

4th and 10 for K from it’s own 20. While K’s punt is in flight, R2 blocks Ks below the waist at the 50. R4 muffs ball at 45 and K recoversIs this PSK?R2 block is illegal and occurred before kick ended. However PSK does not apply because K is in possession at end of down. K will likely decline penalty and start a new series at 45.

4th and 10 on the 20. While K’s punt is in flight, R block K below the waist at K 18. R4 makes fair catch at 50.Is this PSK?R bock is illegal and occurred before kick ended. Not PSK because spot of foul is behind the neutral zone. Penalty is marked 15 yards form previous spot.

4th and 10 for K from it’s own 40. While punt is in flight, R2 block K3 below the waist. The foul occurs at R’s 18. The untouched kick lands in end zone. Is this PSK?PSK applies. Because kick resulted in touchback, team R’s 20 yard line is the basic spot. Foul is behind basic spot, and that’s the spot of enforcement. R’s ball 1st and 10 from it’s 9.

Live ball foul by the opponents of the scoring team – no

change of possession

Live ball foul by the opponents of the team scoring a touchdown – foul comes after change

of possessions

Penalty enforced on try or succeeding kickoff

Live ball fouls treated as dead ball

fouls that occur during a touchdown

Carryover Fouls (Bridges)